Improvement in bee-hives



uitrit tetes getarnt' @Hita CHA RLES llSTIIl-GS, 0F vDOVVAGrIAC, MICHIGAN. Letters Patent IVe. 73,096, dated January '-7, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT -IN BEE-Hives. i

@tige Stigthule referat tu in tten tttters ntent mit nmtng part m tige smut.

To ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Beit known that 1 CHARLES HAs'rrNes, of Dowagiac, in the county of Cass, and in the State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bee-Hives; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to thei\ letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section, and

Figure 2 a pian view, with the top or lid of thehi-ve taken oit.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a rectangular box, having a suitable lid or cover, A. This box is formed with -an outer and an inner wall, O', leaving a dead-air space, a, between the two. TheY inner wall'O 'does not extend quite to the top of box, so as t0 leave asuitable ledge `for the comb-frames to be suspended from. B B represent a series ofthe comb-frames, which are formed ot' four narrow strips of plank, the topl one of which is a little wider than the width of' the frame, forming projections o n each side, whereby the frame is supported upon the tops ofthe inner wall, O, as before described.' -This top bar d is placed edgewise into narrow slots in the top of the two side bars, and is bevelled at the lower edge, being provided with a notch, z, in#

its centre at the top, (see fig. l.) When placed upon the ledge, the top of .these frames is ilush with the upper edge of the top. Upon the top ofthe frames is placed a sheet of paper, C, cloth, or other'similar substance, so as to prevent the bees from buildinv their combs either between the-frames, or connecting the combs .to the under part of the lid. This feature is one of no little moment in the practical keeping of bees, as all apiarists will readily testify to it, being a well-established fact that the bees and frames have to be taken out and cleansed.

oftentimes when building their combs. By this simple device, the bees are compelled'tc -build their combs straight from the frames. It will be seen that these frames do not touch the sides or bottom of the box, 'and arc placed at suitable distances from each other, so that one frame can be taken from the hlve without disturbing the others. When the frames are thus suspended, the bees are free to operate in 'the hive, and can pass and This hive, being constructed in an economical and practical form, will el'ectually accomplish the objects for which it is designed, being provided with suitable openings for thev entrance lof the bees and ventilation,

I am awarev that bee-hives having dead-air spaces are known; also that brood-frames have been constructed The combination 0f the box A with an air-chamber, a, and a series o t' movable comb-frames, B B, with recesses a. Said frames and recesses are covered with paper, C, or equivalent material, as and for the purposes specified. K

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand, this 18th day of September, 1867.

CHAS. HASTINGS.

Witnesses i 5T. Mormon McNAm, N. Bi HoLLIsTER. 

